J.G. Ballard’s ‘High Rise’ will screen at Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest has announced its second wave of programming, which includes the U.S. debut of the live action movie adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s “High Rise.”

Director Ben Wheatley’s “High Rise,” based on the 1975 novel of the same name, stars Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller and Luke Evans as residents in a luxury apartment complex where the tenants, isolated from the rest of society, fall into class warfare and clash violently between the floors of their building. And if this movie is similar to the book, there will be blood.

Organizers also announced that “The Lobster,” making its U.S. premiere, will be the genre festival’s opening night film.

The first all-English offering from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Lobster” is a dystopian sci-fi romance set in a future where single people have 45 days to find a matching mate or face transformation into an animal and exile into The Woods.

Sept. 24 will also see the world premiere of “Lazer Team,” where four small-town losers who stumble on a special suit become Earth’s only hope in the battle against an advanced alien threat. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s cast and crew, including director Matt Hullum and actors Burnie Burns, Alan Ritchson, Colton Dunn, Michael Jones and Gavin Free.

A special screening of Ridley Scott’s “The Martian” is also among the festival’s special events. “The Martian” is a book adaptation from author Andy Weir starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars.

Other returning Fantastic Fest alums include Jeremy Saulnier with “Green Room,” which stars Patrick Stewart as a diabolical club owner who squares off agaisnt a punk band, and Mikkel Norgaard with “Klovn Forever,” the next installment in Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen’s disturbing friendship.

In addition to films, Fantastic Fest announced that the explosive 32-member avant-garde marching band Itchy-O will appear at the event for the first time.

Fantastic Fest, the giant genre film festival featuring horror, sci-fi and fantasy films, is held at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. This year’s fest will run from Sept. 24-Oct. 1.

Twitter: @tracycbrown